How to Add Comments, Tags, and Ratings to a Folder in Windows

Windows users often need to organize files and folders for easier access and efficient sorting. One way to achieve this is by adding comments, tags, and ratings to folders. This guide will cover how to do this on Windows 10 and 11.

Why Add Tags and Comments to Folders?

Tags, ratings, and comments make it much simpler to find the files and folders you need, especially when handling large volumes of data. Adding tags, for example, lets you search by specific keywords, while a rating system can help you quickly identify the most important files. These tools enhance searchability and improve data organization.

How to Add Comments to Files and Folders

While Windows doesn’t allow adding comments directly to folders, certain file types, such as images, text documents, and videos, do support adding comments within their properties.

Adding Comments to Files

  1. Find the file in File Explorer.
  2. Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
  3. Go to the “Details” tab.
  4. In the “Comments” field, type your desired text and click “Apply”.

Note that not all file types support comments. For instance, plain text files (.txt) don’t offer this feature.

Adding Tags to Files

Tags let you label files with specific keywords, making it faster to search and organize content.

How to Add Tags

  1. Right-click on the file and select “Properties”.
  2. In the “Details” tab, find the “Tags” field.
  3. Type keywords separated by commas and click “Apply”.

Keep in mind that not all file types support tagging. It works best with images and documents created in Microsoft Office.

Setting Ratings for Files

Ratings are another useful way to organize files. You can assign a rating from 1 to 5 stars to quickly gauge their importance or relevance.

How to Assign Ratings

  1. Right-click on the file and select “Properties”.
  2. Go to the “Details” tab.
  3. In the “Rating” field, select the desired number of stars.
  4. Click “Apply” to save the changes.

Alternative Solutions for Folder Organization

If the standard Windows tools don't meet your needs for adding comments, tags, or ratings to folders, consider using third-party software:

  • TagSpaces – a cross-platform app for tagging and organizing files.
  • Directory Opus – a powerful file manager with advanced features like adding comments and tags.
  • XYplorer – enables adding tags and comments to files and offers additional organization tools.